Basketball backboard support assembly

ABSTRACT

A basketball goal assembly designed for ease of assembly and adjustment, and including an upright, rectangular pole formed of a plurality of relatively short, aligned tubular pole components, each having substantially the same cross-sectional dimension. Two L-shaped angle brackets splice the pole components together. Each bracket engages two adjacent sides of a pole component and overlaps each of two adjacent components. A pair of bolts extend through the angle brackets and pole components, the bolts being perpendicular to each other, for securing same together to form a rigid, rectangular pole. A pair of vertically spaced backboard brackets are carried by the upper end of the pole and support a backboard, to which a basketball goal is attached.

United States Patent 11 1 Ganis 1 Dec. 4, 1973 [54] BASKETBALL BACKBOARD SUPPORT 2,300,226 10/1942 Ketchum 287/111 X ASSEMBLY 548,191 10/1895 Griscom... 287/111 X 1,238,976 9/1917 Zika 248/230 X [75] Inv J p Francis Ganis, Charlotte, 532,132 1/1895 Zaremba 273 15 R ux NC. [73] Assignee: E-Z Up Industries, Inc., Charlotte, pri'flary Exami'ller Richard piflkham N'C Assistant Exam1nerPaul E. Shapiro Att0rneyDaniel E. McConnell [22] Filed: Mar. 13, 1972 21 Appl. No.: 233,931 [57] ABSTRACT A basketball goal assembly designed for ease of assembly and adjustment, and including an upright, rect- [52] US. Cl 273/15 R, 248/159, 22488421391, angmar pole formed of a plurality of relatively Short aligned tubular pole components, each having substantially the same cross-sectional dimension. Two L- [5 1 2 1 11 6 4. shaped angle brackets splice the pole components to- 8/ l gether. Each bracket engages two adjacent sides of a pole component and overlaps each of two adjacent [56] References Clted components. A pair of bolts extend through the angle UNITED STATES PATENTS brackets and pole components, the bolts being per- 3,669,45O 6/1972 Mason 273/15 pendicular to each other, for securing same together 3,181,849 5/1965 Mitchell 273/ 1.5 R X to form a rigid, rectangular pole. A pair of vertically 316507530 3/1972 f 273/15 R X spaced backboard brackets are carried by the upper 5 9 3 end of the pole and support a backboard, to which a m1 1,074,838 10 1913 Cox 248/230 basketball goal attached 2,255,270 9/1941 Pimm 287/111 3 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures BASKETBALL BACKBOARD SUPPORT ASSEMBLY This invention relates to a basketball goal assembly of improved design.

Basketball goal assemblies of various types have been devised before. Prior art designs, however, have certain deficiencies which limit the ease of transportation and assembly. For example, basketball goal assemblies which utilize telescoping pole sections forming an adjustable goal support pole are too long, even in their unassembled state, to be easily transported in an automobile. Furthermore, the telescoping of the pole sections makes it necessary to have a substantial portion of the height of the pole made up of overlapping thicknesses of the pole material. The added weight necessitated by this construction makes assembly more difficult, and, of course, adds to the cost of the unit.

In addition, if the telescoping units fit too closely, expansion due to temperature variations or rust may make adjustment difficult, if not impossible. On the other hand, if the units fit together too loosely, the goal will not be stable enough for proper use.

It is an object of this invention to make transportation and assembly easier by providing a unit which, in its unassembled state, is in relatively, short, light-weight components which can be easily handled by a person of average strength, and which can be easily assembled with simple tools.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a support pole which can be easily adjusted to provide a lower goal, either by removing a section of the pole, or by moving the goal to a lower height on the pole by means of a readily adjustable backboard bracket.

These and other objects of the invention will be made apparent by the following description, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevation showing the invention in assembled form, implanted in the ground and ready for use;

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of one embodiment of the invention with parts broken away,

FIG. 3 is an isometric view of another embodiment of the invention with parts broken away; and

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the backboard support illustrated in FIG. 3, with parts broken away.

While two embodiments are illustrated and will be described in detail, a number of components of each embodiment are the same, and will be identified by like reference numerals.

With reference now more specifically to FIG. 1, there is illustrated the invention in its assembled form. As shown, the pole, indicated generally by reference numeral 10, is formed of three relatively short, aligned tubular pole components a, 10b and 100, having their adjacent ends interconnected by bracket assemblies 11.

The rectangular cross-sectional configuration of the pole provides the basketball goal assembly with enhanced torsional resistance.

As best shown in FIGS. Z and 3, each of the bracket assemblies comprise a pair of angle brackets 12, which matingly overlap said pole components at their adjacent ends, with suitable fasteners, here shown as pairs of bolts 13 and extending through suitably positioned holes in the angle brackets and through opposing sides of adjacent pole components. Suitably threaded pairs of nuts 14 and 16 engage the threaded end portions of bolts 13 and 15, respectively, to secure the pole components 10a, 10b and 10c as a single, rigid pole.

It is to be noted that each pair of one bolt 13 and one bolt 15 (FIG. 3) has the pair of bolts spaced axially one from another on the end portion of the pole component (10a) penetrated thereby. Further, the pair of bolts 13, 15 are directed along perpendicular axes in such a manner that engagement of the nut 14 with the threaded end portion of the bolt 13 will clamp a first pair of opposing surfaces of the angle brackets 12 against opposing surfaces of the rectangular (preferably square) pole component end portion. Engagement of the other nut 16 with the other bolt 15 clamps the other legs of the angle brackets 12 against the other opposing faces of the pole component end portion. Thus, all four faces of the two pole components are drawn into a rigid alignment. Further, the crossed axes of the two bolts 13, 15 preclude any effective pivotal motion about one of the bolts such as might otherwise occur if only a single bolt was employed at each pole component end portion rather than the spaced pair of perpendicular bolts.

Carried by the upper end of pole 10 is a pair of vertically spaced backboard brackets, one embodiment generally indicated by reference numeral 20 in FIG. 2, and another by reference numeral 30 in FIG. 3. The two embodiments of the backboard brackets provide for the positioning of the backboard in two different spaced relationships with reference to the pole 10.

With particular reference now to FIG. 2, each of the backboard brackets 20 is shown as having a pair of laterally extending aligned wing portions 21, 22 with elongate slots 21a, 22a therein, extending outwardly beyond opposite sides of said pole with a recessed medial portion 23 therebetween. The pair of backborad brackets 20 are firmly affixed to pole component 10a by means of a pair of clamping bolts 24 extending through said recessed medial portion 23 of each of the backboard brackets, and retaining members 25, pole component 10a being sandwiched between backboard brackets 20 and retaining members 25 so that when clamping bolts 24 are tightened by means of threaded nuts 26, said backboard brackets are firmly affixed to pole component 10a in the desired manner.

Backboard 40 carrying thereon basketball goal 50, is secured to backboard brackets 20 by means of bolts 24 passing through the backboard, and through elongate slots 21a, 22a in the laterally extending wing portions 21, 22 of backboard bracket 20, such that said backboard is carried in a closely adjacent position with reference to pole 10.

FIG. 3 illustrates another embodiment of the present invention, wherein two backboard brackets, indicated generally by reference numeral 30, encircle the upper end of pole component 10a in vertically spaced relation to each other, each backboard bracket 30 having a pair of outwardly and forwardly diverging leg portions 30a, 30b.

As best shown in FIG. 4, backboard bracket 30 is of two-piece construction where each of the components are identical and each comprise flat steel stock material having oppositely directed front and rear end portions 31, 32, respectively, with a relatively long web portion 33 extending rearwardly from the front end portion 31 and interconnecting a relatively short web portion 34 which is positioned at substantially right angle relation to the rear end portion 32. Further, it will be noted that the inclusive angle between the relatively short web portion 34 and the relatively long web portion 33 is obtuse so that when the two components forming the bracket 30 are assembled by overlapping their rear end portions 32 and by use of a suitable securing bolt 35, the relatively long web portions 33 serve for defining the outwardly and forwardly diverging leg portions 30a and 30b of the assembled bracket. Further, it will be noted that out-turned forward end portions 31 may readily engage the backside of the backboard in substantially flush relationship for supporting the backboard 40 by suitable bolts 36 extending through the backboard and passing through the forward end portions 31 and being suitably secured thereto. A bolt 37 and nut 38 is also provided for interconnecting the two components of each bracket assembly, which bolt extends through the relatively short web portions 34 for clampingly securing the bracket 30 at the desired position on the pole 10.

As described above, the basketball backboard support assembly provides a light-weight, easy-to-assemble unit which can be readily adapted for use by either adults or young children. If desired, intermediate pole component b and one of the angle brackets 11 can be removed so that the uppermost pole component 10a connects directly to lowermost pole component 10c. Alternatively, threaded nuts 26 in FIG. 2, or threaded nut 38 in FIG. 3, can be loosened, allowing movement of backboard brackets 20, or 30, respectively, along the pole. This means of adjustment is particularly useful when one desires to lower the backboard, but nevertheless wishes it to be at a point higher than the combined heights of only two of the pole components.

It will be understood that various details of the invention may be changed without departing from the scope of the invention. Furthermore, the foregoing description is for purposes of illustration only, and not for purposes of limitation-the invention being defined by the claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A basketball goal assembly having provision for the easy transportation and assembly thereof, and the ready adjustment in the height of the goal, said assembly comprising an upright, rigid rectangular pole comprising three relatively short aligned tubular pole components each of substantially the same rectangular cross sectional dimension,

a pair of opposing L-shaped angle brackets matingly overlapping and substantially encompassing abutting end portions of adjacent pairs of pole components,

plurality of fasteners extending through each pair of angle brackets and the pole components encompassed thereby, said fasteners including pairs' of bolt means spaced axially one from another along the end portion of the pole component penetrated thereby and directed along perpendicular axes for clamping opposing portions of said angle brackets against said pole component end portion and thereby for rigidly aligning and securing together said pole components,

a pair of vertically spaced apart backboard brackets carried by the uppermost one of said pole components, each of said brackets including means for releasably and clampingly engaging said uppermost pole component to secure the bracket thereto while readily permitting the vertical adjustment thereof, and laterally directed portions extending outwardly a predetermined distance from opposite sides of said pole, each of said laterally directed portions including coplanar flat end portions and defining apertures extending through said flat end portions,

a backboard positioned flush against said flat end portions of said laterally directed portions,

bolt means extending through said backboard and said aperture means for securing said backboard to each of said brackets, and

a basketball goal mounted on said backboard.

2. A basketball goal assembly according to claim 1 wherein said pair of backboard brackets encircle the upper end of said pole and wherein said laterally directed portions include outwardly and forwardly diverging leg portions to the forward ends of which leg portions the backboard is secured for thus supporting the backboard in predetermined forward spaced relation to said pole.

3. A basketball goal assembly according to claim 2, wherein each of said backboard brackets are of twopiece construction formed of identical components and wherein said components have angled inner end portions positioned in overlapping relationship to each other along the back side of said pole. 

1. A basketball goal assembly having provision for the easy transportation and assembly thereof, and the ready adjustment in the height of the goal, said assembly comprising an upright, rigid rectangular pole comprising three relatively short aligned tubular pole components each of substantially the same rectangular cross sectional dimension, a pair of opposing L-shaped angle brackets matingly overlapping and substantially encompassing abutting end portions of adjacent pairs of pole components, a plurality of fasteners extending through each pair of angle brackets and the pole components encompassed thereby, said fasteners including pairs of bolt means spaced axially one from another along the end portion of the pole component penetrated thereby and directed along perpendicular axes for clamping opposing portions of said angle brackets against said pole component end portion and thereby for rigidly aligning and securing together said pole components, a pair of vertically spaced apart backboard brackets carried by the uppermost one of said pole components, each of said brackets including means for releasably and clampingly engaging said uppermost pole component to secure the bracket thereto while readily permitting the vertical adjustment thereof, and laterally directed portions extending outwardly a predetermined distance from opposite sides of said pole, each of said laterally directed portions including coplanar flat end portions and defining apertures extending through said flat end portions, a backboard positioned flush against Said flat end portions of said laterally directed portions, bolt means extending through said backboard and said aperture means for securing said backboard to each of said brackets, and a basketball goal mounted on said backboard.
 2. A basketball goal assembly according to claim 1 wherein said pair of backboard brackets encircle the upper end of said pole and wherein said laterally directed portions include outwardly and forwardly diverging leg portions to the forward ends of which leg portions the backboard is secured for thus supporting the backboard in predetermined forward spaced relation to said pole.
 3. A basketball goal assembly according to claim 2, wherein each of said backboard brackets are of two-piece construction formed of identical components and wherein said components have angled inner end portions positioned in overlapping relationship to each other along the back side of said pole. 